Does CBD Help With Chronic Pain?..

A patient survey collaboration between Care by Design and Project CBD demonstrated that cannabis appears to be a powerful pain management tool with few negative unwanted effects. The study also found that a significant decline in opiate usage among elderly patients while taking medical cannabis.

Pain affects one’s mood, memory, relationships, and overall quality of life. Constant aches and discomfort may cause frustration, depression, anxiety, anger, social isolation, poor sleep, and related health risks. Pain is a concern. A large problem. And it becomes worse as we get older: 50 % of older adults who live independently and 75-85 percent in the elderly in care facilities reportedly are afflicted by chronic pain. With an increasing number of people embracing marijuana for relief, this survey sought to respond to several questions: How satisfied are patients with cannabis being an analgesic? How

does medical marijuana compare to other pain management approaches, in particular, opiates? Just how do the most common pain management therapies compare when it comes to their impact on quality of life? Eight hundred people responded for the survey spanning a six-week period. Most were between 50 and 70 yrs old. Over 80 % reported they were experiencing chronic pain; near half reported struggling with acute pain; about 40 percent reported struggling with both. Typically, respondents had tried four different treatment solutions for his or her pain. One out of four respondents had tried six or even more treatment modalities.

Key Findings:

Cannabis, opiates, exercise/physical rehabilitation and NSAIDs all provided noticeable pain alleviation in over half of patients. Cannabis was the only therapeutic method for which there have been no reports of worsening pain. In contrast, surgery, exercise, and nerve blockers benefited some but resulted in increased pain in a significant minority of survey participants. Cannabis and exercise/physical therapy were reported to be the most efficient therapies for improving standard of living measurements. Over one half of patients using these treatment approaches reported improvements in functional ability, mood,

and energy.

A striking variety of patients (around half) reported that opiates experienced a negative effect on overall wellbeing, and led to worsening mood, energy, functional ability and sleep.Over half of respondents reported that they had used both cannabis and opiates for pain management. Of great interest was the impact of cannabis therapy on opiate usage: Ninety-one percent of the subgroup reported which they used fewer or no opiates after beginning cannabis therapy. Sixty-three percent stated that they went off opiates altogether.

Pain affects one’s mood, memory, relationships, and overall quality of life. Chronic pain can cause frustration, depression, anger, social isolation, anxiety, poor sleep, as well as other health problems. 50 percent of older adults who live independently and 75-85 percent in the elderly in care facilities reportedly have problems with chronic pain.

This survey-a collaboration between Care By Design and Project CBD-sought to respond to several questions: How satisfied are patients with cannabis as an analgesic? How exactly does medical marijuana can compare to other pain management approaches, in particular, opiates? How can the most common pain management therapies compare when it comes to their influence on total well being?

Eight hundred people, most between 50 to 70 yrs old, responded towards the survey. Over 80 % reported that they were suffering from chronic pain; near to half reported struggling with acute pain.

An important decline in opiate usage among elderly patients on cannabis therapy was the study’s most notable finding. Over half of respondents reported that they had used both cannabis and opiates for pain management. Of the subgroup, 91 percent said they used fewer or no opiates after beginning cannabis therapy. Sixty-three percent stated that they went off opiates altogether.

Other Key Findings: A striking number of patients (around half) reported that opiates enjoyed a negative influence on overall wellbeing, and ended in worsening mood, energy, functional ability and sleep.

Cannabis was the sole therapeutic means for which there have been no reports of worsening pain. In comparison, surgery, exercise, and nerve blockers benefited some but resulted in increased pain in a significant minority of survey participants.

There was no significant differences in outcomes for patients using plant-derived high THC products compared to whole plant CBD-rich products; both types of cannabis were found to become very effective in managing pain. The most typical way of cannabis administration was vaporization, which is generally a safe vbgzom mode of administration-barring additives and thinning agents that can be found in low quality vaping products.

Based on this patient survey, cannabis therapy appears to be a highly effective pain management tool with few negative side effects. Patient-reported outcomes of cannabis’ efficacy together with its low side effect profile suggest that it should be viewed as an initial-line remedy for pain or being an adjunct treatment to opiates rather than being a medication of last resort.